Method for drawing off and discharging the hosiery in flat weft knitting frames and frames designed for carrying out the method



J. VACLAVIK EIAL 2,622,422 METHOD FOR DRAWING OFF AND DISCHARGING THE HOSIERY IN FLAT WEFT KNITTING FRAMES, AND FRAMES DESIGNED Dec. 23, 1952 FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1949 Dec. 23, 1952 J v c y ETAL 2,622,422

METHOD FOR DRAWING OFF AND DISCHARGING THE HOSIERY IN FLAT WEFT KNITTING FRAMES, AND FRAMES DESIGNED FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD Filed Dec. 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 23, 1952 v c v r 2,622,422

METHOD FOR DRAWING OFF AND DISCHARGING THE HOSIERY IN FLAT WEFT KNITTING FRAMES, AND FRAMES DESIGNED FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHQD Filed Dec. 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 23, 1952 J v c v r 2,622,422

METHOD FOR DRAWING OFF AND DISCHARGING THE HOSIERY IN FLAT WEFT KNITTING FRAMES, AND FRAMES DESIGNED FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD Filed Dec. 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/QA A W. 43-D J M J=L%ZM & PM)? 23, 1952 J. VACLAVIK EI'AL 2,622,422

METHOD FOR DRAWING OFF AND DISCHARGING THE HOSIERY IN FLAT WEFT KNITTING FRAMES, AND FRAMES DESIGNED FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1 949 0W @a uiamb vzl gzv' 2 1 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 METHOD FOR DRAWING OFF AND DIS- CHARGING THE HOSIERY IN FLAT WEFT KNITTING FRAMES AND FRAMES SIGNED FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD J aroslav Vaclavik and Oldfich Bayer, Gottwaldov,

Czechoslovakia, assignors to Svit, n'arodni podnik, Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia.

Application December 28, 1949, Serial N 0. 135,386 In Czechoslovakia December 30, 1948 (01. see-96y 8 Claims.

In a recent design of flat weft knitting frames as hitherto known the stockings are drawn off during the knitting operation in extended condition by means of rods inserted into the double welts, the rods being taken along by hooks attached to the drawing-off belts. These drawing off hooks are moving first from their operative position in horizontal direction towards the fabric rolls and then from the latter in a downward direction. In the lowermost position of the hooks,

' the corresponding welt rods fall out of them as soon as the last course of loops of the stocking has been struck off from the needles. Together with the welt rods the finished stockings fall into containers arranged at a lower level above the level above the floor of the factory. The drawing off belts are driven by a shaft which controls at the same time the movement of the welt bars and is rotated alternatingly by two falling weights of different size. The lighter weight causes the welt bars and the rods to be drawn off until the finished set of stockings fall down into the containers and the heavier weight brings the drawing-off hooks into their'starting position and lift the lighter weight to its highest position.

The above described method for drawing off finished stockings in extended condition shows first of all the disadvantage that the goods which are drawn ofi conceal the front part of the frame so that the visibility is impaired. Moreover, when the non-working threads of the discharged stockings are to be severed by hand, the attendant must take each stocking in hand as otherwise the goods would fall outside of the container and become soiled; the same danger arises also in frames in which the non-working threads are severed automatically. Also the location of the containers adjacent to the floor is not convenient for the attendants. Finally the outlined constructional arrangement of the frames referred to has consider-able drawbacks. Thus, especially the use of weights for driving requires complex winding-up and safety devices. Moreover, the use of a single driving shaft for the above mentioned operations does not allow a simultaneous and automatic control of the corresponding devices, as is usual with the modern frames of this type.

Some of the above disadvantages do not appear in the more recent designs of knitting frames which, when still making use of weights for driving the drawing-off means, have a special shaft for controlling the cover plates and a separate shaft for reeling up the goods being drawn off. In such designs the double welt of a stocking together with the welt rod a'rereeled up on the second shaft referred to, but only during the knitting operation. When the knitting operation is terminated, the attendant seizes the instep of the stocking which has been thrown off from' the needles and lies between the latter and the fabric roll shaft, and by pulling on the stockingunwinds it by hand and puts it aside after thewelt rod has been withdrawn. Asf-ar as the constructional arrangement is concerned,- inthis case the two shafts which rotate constantly in one direction, are driven each by its proper weight, the weight which drives the cover plate controlling shaft being operative up to the moment only when the withdrawing of the weltrods is initiated and the other weight begins to rotate the shaft for reeling up the goods, which operation lasts up to the end of the knitting.

The main drawbackof this second method for discharging the finished stockings resides in the necessity for a permanent -co-operation of the attendant. The constructional arrangement referred to shows also the disadvantage that the two shafts can be rotated only successively and not simultaneously and always in one direction, so that simultaneous movement of the corresponding devices, which would be advantageous, is not possible. Moreover, with this arrangement it is necessary that after the knitting of the double welt has been terminated and the welt rods have been inserted, the attendant should each time relieve by hand the shaft for controlling the welt bars, by allowing the corresponding weight to drop on to the floor to its inoperative position. This requires special care on the part of the attendant. In this case the disadvantages inherent to the use of weights for the drive are substantially the same as those described hereinbefore.

The method for drawing off and discharging finished stockings in flat weft knitting frames in accordance with the invention as described hereinafter eliminates all the disadvantages of the prior arrangements. The invention resides substantially in that the stocking is completely reeled up on the fabric roll not only during the knitting operation but also after it has been struck off from the needles and then is automatically unreeled by rotation of the roll in the opposite direction and is received into a discharge container located adjacent to the fabric roll. 7

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, concurrently with the reeling up on the fabric rolls of the knitted stockingsstill connected to the frame needles, the welt bars are moved by their associated mechanism out of their position of rest into a preparatory position.- When the finished stocking has been struck off from the frame needles, the stocking is completely reeled up on the fabric roll referred to, while the welt bars draw off from the frame needles the initial courses of loops of the next set of hosiery articles. When the stockings have been completely reeled up on the fabric rolls, the rotation of the latter is automatically reversed and the stockings are unreeled and received in the discharge containers, as it has been mentioned hereinbefore.

The present invention relates further to a fiat weft knitting frame provided with a device for carrying out the above described method for discharging finished hosiery articles. For this purpose mainly such fiat weft knitting frames are convenient which are provided with a separate shaft for controlling the welt bars and with another shaft, the so called fabric roll shaft, for reeling up the hosiery goods. In such flat weft knitting frames the welt bars are moving horizontally and the goods are drawn off by means of pull members, such as belts and hooks for the welt rods, the said hooks being adapted to return automatically to their basic position when the set of knitted articles has been struck off.

As it has been stated in the preceding paragraph, the flatweft knitting frame in accordance with the present invention comprises an independent shaft for controlling the welt bars and a fabric roll shaft for reeling up, unreeling and discharging the sets of hosiery articles into containers arranged underneath the fabric rolls and for simultaneously returning the drawingoff hooks to their basic position, the two shafts being arranged to operate automatically and quite independently from each other.

In accordance with the invention, each of the shafts referred to is rotated by an automatic and independent drive, the operation of the two drives being derived from a common driving mechanism and controlled by a pattern drum 'or chain, known per se.

According to the invention, the two drives may be of the pawl and-ratchet type and their common driving mechanism may be actuated by the main cam shaft.

The flat weft knitting frames in accordance with the present invention have a higher efficiency than the prior machines of this type and their use reduces substantially the production cost. A single attendant may take care of a larger number of frames since the work to be performed does not require special skill and is confined to subsidiary operation only, such as pulling out the double weltro'ds and taking the set of finished hosiery articles out of the containers etc.

Further advantages and features of the invention will appear fromthe example described hereinafter of the construction and operation of a fia tWeft knitting frame provided with the device of the invention for drawing off and discharging the finished hosiery articles. The accompanying drawings show those parts only of a fiat weft knitting frame which are necessary for the understanding of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of the working system of a flat weft knitting frame having a pawl and ratchet drive A for the shaft controlling the welt bars, and apawl and ratchet drive B for the shaft for reeling up and unreeling the hosiery articles; v V

Figure 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale through both shafts along the line aa of Figure l, and a view of the two pawl and ratchet drives A and B in the direction of the shafts;

Figure 3 is a section along the line b--b of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section through the pawl and ratchet drive A along the line c-c of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section through the pawl and ratchet drive B along the line dd of Figure 2; and

Figures 6 to 15 are vertical sections through both shafts and the parts associated therewith along the line ee of Figure 1, during the various working phases, as is described with greater detail hereinafter.

Of the usual knitting elements for producing the loops, Figure 1 shows only the frame needles I and their co-operating bearded needles 2 of a welt bar 3. The welt bar is moved horizontally in a. manner known per se in the guides 4 by the rotation of a transverse shaft 5 and of pulleys '5 fixed on the latter, each pulley 6 being embraced by a spring I the two free ends of which are anchored in the welt bar 3. The drawing-off hooks 3 which are fastened to the drawing-off belts 9 and serve to draw off the knitted fabric, are wound up or unwound in common on a fabric roll Ill during the knitting operation due to the rotation of the transverse fabric roll shaft II. The two transverse shafts 5 and H, which are mounted for free rotation in the 'side walls E2 of the frame, are adapted to be driven at any desired time independently of each other and in the desired direction of rotation by means of pawl and ratchet drives A and B of which the drive A is adapted to move the welt bars 3 in a manner known per se out of their position of rest I into their preparatory position II (see also Figure 6) and out of their operative position III into their position of rest I (see Figures 7 and 15).

The pawl and ratchet drive A consists, as will be seen from Figures 2, 3 and 4, of two ratchet wheels H, M designed for oppositely directed engagement, which are mounted at the end of the cover plate shaft 5 and are fixed by screws 56 to the hub l5. The hub I5 is itself fixed by means of a securing screw I! to the cover plate shaft ii. Around the ratchet wheels 13 and I4 is fixed on a toothed pinion it, which turns loosely on the fixed pin [9 of the side wall [2, a circular case 26 with apertures 2 I, 22 (see more particularly Fig. 4) The position at any time of the apertures 2!, 22 determines which of the two pawls 23, 24 is to engage in the teeth of the associated ratchet wheel [3 or M and thereby the direction of rotation of the welt bar shaft 5. The pawl 23 and the associated ratchet wheel 53 are the means for turning the welt bar shaft 5 in the clockwise sense, as seen in Fig. 2, that is for horizontally displacing the welt bars 3 out of their position of rest I into the preparatory position II (see Fig. 6), and the pawl 25 with its associated ratchet wheel M for turning the welt bar shaft 5 in the opposite sense, that is for withdrawing the welt bars 3 out of their operative position III (Fig. '7) into the position of rest I (Fig. 15).

The setting of the rotatable case iii) and its apertures 21 and 22 in one direction or the other is effected by means of a rack bar 25 which meshes with the toothed pinion l8 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The rack bar 25 is fixed to a pull rod 2$,'the vertical motion of which is derived by means of a pull rod system'z'l, 28, 29 and 30 (Fig.1) from the patterndrumtl, on the surface of which are fastened segments 32a'n'd 33 having twosteps of different height adapted to coact at certain timeswith the end of a lever 30 mounted for free rotation on a supporting pin '34 fixed in the side wall I 2. The two steps of different height of the segments 32 and 33 determine the position of the case 28 (Fig.2) and thereby the functioning of the pawl and ratchet drive A. Thus, for instance, any lower'segment 32 effects the setting of the case 20 into a neutral position and any of the higher segments 33 the turning of the case 28 into a position corresponding to the withdrawing of the cover plates 3 in the direction away from the frame needles I (Figs. 8, 9 and 10).

The pawls 23 and 24 are mounted rotatably on the pin 35 of a one-armed lever 36 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is mounted for rocking movement about a pin I9 fixed in the side wall l2. A coiled spring 31 between the pawls 23 and 24 keeps the latter either in engagement with the associated ratchet wheels l3 and I4 or against the surface of the case 28. A tension spring 40 which is hooked at one end into the eye 38 of the lever 36 and at the other end into the holder 39 (Fig. l) fixed to the side walls returns the pawls 23 and 24 after each feed back into their original position, thus causing, for instance, the welt bar shaft to turn to the extent required for withdrawing the welt bars 3. 1

The pawl and ratchet drive B comprises, similarly as the pawl and ratchet drive A, two ratchet wheels 4| and 42, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, arranged for opposite sense of engagement and which are mounted side by side at the end of the fabric roll shaft II and fastened to the hub 43 by means of screws 44. The hub t3 itself is fastened on the fabric roll shaft I by means of a securing screw 45. On a pinion 46, freely rotatable about a pin 41 fixed in the side wall I2, is secured around the ratchet wheels 4| and 42 a circular case 48 having apertures 49 and 58 (see more articularly Fig. 5). The position of these apertures at any time determines which of the two pawls 5| and 52 will mesh with the teeth of the corresponding ratchet wheels 4| and 42, whereby the direction of rotation of the fabric roll shaft II is determined. The pawl 5| and its associated ratchet wheel 4| serve for turning the fabric roll shaft clockwise as seen in Fig. 2, that is to say for moving the drawingoff hooks 8 horizontally into their basic position (see' Figs. 9 and and the pawl 52 and its associated ratchet wheel 42 serve for turning the fabric roll shaft I in the opposite direction, that is to say for reeling up the hosiery articles on the fabric rolls ill (see Figs. 6, 7, 8, 11, l2, l4 and The adjustment of the rotatable case 48 and of its apertures 49 and 58 in the one direction or the other is effected by a rack bar 53, a toothed segment 54 and a pinion 46 (Figs. 2 and 3). The segment 54 which has two diametrically opposite rows of teeth for engagement on the one side with the rack bar 53 and on the other side with the pinion 46 is mounted for free rotation about a pin 55 screwed into the protecting cover 56. The rack bar 53 is connected to a pull rod 57 to which vertical motion is imparted by means of a pull rod system 58, 59, 68 and 6| (Fig. 1) from the pattern drum 3|. On the sur- 7 face, of the drum are fastened segments 82 nd 63 having two steps of different height adapted to coact at certain times-with the end of a lever 6| mounted for free rotation on the supporting pin 34 fixed in the side wall l2. The two steps of 6 differentheight of the segments 62 and 63 determine the positionof the case 48 (Fig. 2) and thereby control the operation of the pawl and ratchet drive B. Any of the lower segments 62 causes the case 48 to be adjusted to itsneutral position and any. of the higher segments 63 causes the case 48 to ,be turned to a position corresponding -to the return of the drawing-off hooks 8 to their basic position (see Figs. 9 and 10). Levers 58 and 53 (Fig. l) aresecured on either end of a, hollow shaft mounted for free rotation in a bearing 64 fastened to a rod 65 of rectangular cross-section fixed to the side wall l2. In the hollow shaft is mounted for free rotation a shaft 66 and at the projecting ends of the latter are fastened the levers 21 and 28 already referred to.- 7 l v,

The pawls 5| and 52 are mounted rotatably on thepin 61 of a one-armed lever 68 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is mounted for rocking movement on a pin 41 fixed in the sidewall I2. A coiled spring 69 arranged :between the pawls 5| an'd52 keeps the latter either in engagement with the associated ratchet wheels 4| and 42 .or against the surface of the case 48. In an eye 10 of the lever 68 and in the end of the pull rod H of the rod and lever system l2, l3 and 14 (Fig. l) are hooked the ends of a tension spring 75, the adjustable length of which determines the amplitude of the rocking movement of the lever 68 and of its pawls 5| and 52. The automatic length adjustment of the spring 15 is effected in a manner known per se by a periodically rotating cam 15 (Fig. 1) arranged on a shaft ll of rectangular cross-section which is mounted in the side wall l2. The amplitude of the rocking movement of the lever 22 pivoted at one end on a spacer member 79 on the side wall I2 is exactly adjustable by means of a screw 88 mounted eccentrically in the lever 12. A tension spring 8| hooked with its one end ona pin 82 of the pull rod 13 and with its other end on a pin 83 fixed in the side wall l2 urges the arm end of a lever 14 rotatably mounted on a short shaft 84 against the circumference of the cam 76.

The position of the mutually connected ratchet wheels 13 and M or 4| and 42 after each complete feed in the one direction or the other is insured by detents 85-88 or 89-92 (Figs. 2, 3 and '5) of which each group of four are mounted side by side for free rotation about, a pivot'pin 93 fastened in the wall of the protecting cover 56 (Figs. 4 and 5). The coiled springs 94 mounted on a pin 95 keep two adjacent detents 85-86, 81-88 or 89-98, 9l-92 constantly in engagement with the associated ratchet wheels I3 and M or 4| and 42. In order that the end position of the ratchet Wheels may be invariably fixed evenat the smallest feed, the lengthsof the two detents, for instance Hand 88 (Fig. 2), which engage with one and the same ratchet wheel, differ from. each other by half the pitch of the ratchet wheel teeth. To allow the simultaneous engagement of two adjacent detents with theinassociated ratchet wheel, the circular cases 28 and 48 are provided with apertures 96, 91 and 98, 99, respectively.

The engagement of the pawls 23 and 24 or 5| and 52 and of the detents 85-88 or 89-32 with their associated ratchet wheels I3 and M or 4| and 42 is controlled manually by'an independent trip device (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) associated with each :of the pawl and ratchet drives A. and B. The

two trip devices are identical and comprise a tripping member I08 having its shank ||l| (see more particularly Fig. 5) vertically slidable in threaded'a co'iled spring' I02, an'da press button.

I04 is"f astened on the shouldered end of the shank by means of a screw.v I03. A longitudinal groove I05 provided in the shank IOI and. in which engages the cylindrical endI06 of a screw I01 arranged in the protecting cover 56 serves to limitthe vertical displacement of the trip member I and to keep the latter in its correct posie tion. Two fingers I08 and I09- (see more particularly Figs. 2 and 3) fastened on afiattened portion of the trip 'me'mber I00, are'arranged so as to lie'with their bent' ends over the shorter arms of the detents" 8 -88 or 30-02. The circularly curved flat portion of the trip members I00, which are in the form of arcs coaxial with the welt bar shaft 5 and fabric roll shaft'I I, respectively are arranged with outer periphery above the stop pins 'IIII fixed in the pawls 2 3, 24 ,5I and 52. Bydepressing'the press button I0,4 of the drive A or B (Fig. 2) the bent ends of the fingers I08 and I00 are pressed against the-shorter arms of the detents, while the circularf outer periphery of the curved trip member I00 is pressed against the pins IIOof the associated pawls, whereby the engagement of the pawls and detents with their associated ratchet wheels is interrupted so that the welt bar shaft 5 or the fabric roll shaft II may be rotated by hand in the desired direction, which is of importance especially in assembling the apparatus.

A pin I II (Fig. 4;) mounted rotatably in the onc -armed lever 30 is con'ected -with the one end of a pull rod I I2, the otherfend of which is rigidly; connected to a pi l abutment II 3 (Fig. 1) which is mounted rotatablyin the arm N4 of a double-armed lever II5. A pinabutmenti I0 (Fig. 5) rotatably mounted inthe one-armed lever 68 is connected to theone end of a pull rod II! the other. end of which is rigidly connected to a pin IIB (Fig. 1) mountedrotatably in the arm I I4 of the double-armed lever 'II'5. On one end of each of the pull rods II2 and II fl isthreaded a compression sprin H9 and I20, respectively, which bears against an abutment H3 and H8 a'nd angadjusting-rin I2 I and I2I", respectively. The double-armed lever H5 is mounted to'rock' abouta supporting pin I22 which is fastened in theis'idewall' I2 oftheknitting frame. The end of'the other arm I23 of this lever ispulled by a spring I2'4'intothepath of rollers I25 mounted rotatablylabout pins I26 screwed in a stirrup I21. The stirrup I21 is keyed on theflshouldered end of a short shaft I28. whichis mounted for free rotation. in a bearing I29 screwed to the side wall I2 of the knitting frame. On the other shouldered end of the shaft. I28 is keyed a large ,fgear I30 meshing with a smaller ear. I3I having half the number of teeth of the large gear and fa s tened on the main camshaft I32 of the knitting frame. A tensionspring' I24 anchored with its one, endon a small pin I33 provided on the arm I23. and with its other endon 'a pin I34 o n the side wall of the knitting frame, pulls the exten sion I35.of the arm I23 against the adjustable stop I36 screwed into a holder"l3l fastened-on the sidewall I2,"whereby the angle of rocking ofthe double-armed lever II5 andas a consequence the extent-of the-feed 'of the ratchet wheels I3 and I4 and 4| and 42-is determined. Each feeding step of the ratchet wheels takes place during a revolution of the main c am shaft I32.

Figure 10 of the drawings shows the double welt rods I38 which are inti-o'ducedin the kni t d.

fabric automatically in a mannerknownner g from a magazine, I39. 'Directly'underthe, shaft II for reeling up andunreeling. the, fabricate arranged containers I40 for 'receiving'the finished set of knitted articles. Figure 1 showslthat an.

intermediate belt I4Iwhicliis wound on a pulley I42 arranged between the drawing-01f. belts. 9. whi'ch'are wound on pulleys I43, is reeled on the f-abricroll I0 or unreeledxfrom the latter. together with the belts 9 and the hosiery. The shaft I44 on which the pulleys I42'and I43 are arranged is turned by the shaft. II through the intermediary of'a suitable driving device (not.

shown).

The described arrangement operates in the following manner:

During the knitting of the last courses of loops of the stockings, when all thewelt bars 3 are in their position of rest I and-the fabric roll shaft I I with its fabric rolls I0 is rotated by the pawl and ratchet drive B in'the direction of the arrow 81 shown in Figure 6"s'o as to draw on and reel up the knitted articles I45, the pawl and ratchet drive A is put in operation by an impulse of the pattern drum 3I (see Fig. 1) and causes the welt bar shaft 5 to be rotated in the direction of the arrow s; shown in Fig. 6 in a manner known per se so that all the welt bars 3are shifted horizontally by means of the pulleys 6 and springs I in the guides 4 from their position of rest I into a preparatory position II, that is to say in the direction towards the frame needles I, as shown in Figures 6 and '7.

During this oppositerotation of the two shafts 5 and I I in the directions of" the arrows in and s2 (Fig. 6) the pattern drum 3! assumes such'a position that the ends of the levers 6| and 30 he against the surface of the drum. Under the action of the lever GI upon the pull rod system 60, 59, 58 and 51 and further upon therack bar 53 (Figs. 2 and 3) and toothed segment 54, the pinion 48 and the case 48 connected with the latter are so turned that the aperture'50 of the case 48 will permit the pawl 52 'tojengage for a time with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 42. Under the action of the lever 30 upon the rod system 29, 20, 2'! and 20 andfurth er'upon the rack bar 25 (Figs. 2and 3), th'epinionll8 and the case 20 connectedtherewith are so turned that the aperture 2 I 'of the case 20 will permit the pawl 23 to engage for atim'e'with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I3.

The above described simultaneous feed of the ratchet wheels 42 and I 3'} and'thus the'turning movement of the shafts Hand 5 in opposite directions, is derived by means of the'driving mechanism C (Fig. 1) from themain camshaft I32. To a complete revolution offthefmain cam shaft I32 and of the'small gearw'heel I3Icorrespends half a revolutionof the'la'rgejgearlwheel I30 in the sense of the arrow shown on the same, and of the two rollers. I25. The" rol1'ers12'5 to which circular movement is impartdcome to bear successively against one endofthearmIIZS of the lever II5 and cause thes'aid arm .to'rock againstthe action of thesp ring'fl'24. Thesimultaneous rocking of theotherv arm. II4of the lever in the opposite direction imparts movementto the pull rods II? and I I2 connected to the levers E8 and 35 so that the movement is transmitted from the leversfiaand 30 to their associated paw of Which the pawlsfi? and. en age with the ratchet. wheels. 42 and. I in the case under consideration. v

As soon as the welt bars 3 reach their preparatory position II (Fig. 7 automatic advance of the pattern drum 3I takes place'in the direction of the arrow, the end of the lever 30 passing from the surface of the drum 3| on to the sliding face of a lower segment 32, so that the pul1 rod system '29, 28, 21 and 26, the rack bar 25 and the pinion I8 (Figs. 2 and 3) cause the case zoto-turn to its neutral position. Thereby further engagement of the pawl 23 with its associated ratchet wheel I3 is prevented so that during the following operation of Vtheframe the welt bars 3' remain in the aforesaid preparatory position II,

. and the pawl and ratchet drive A is for the time being inactive. The same location of the welt bars 3 in the preparatory position in all cases is insured by a gap I48 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the teeth of the ratchet wheel I3 at a point corresponding to this position. The gap I48, which has a length equal to three tooth spaces and half the thickness of the ratchet wheel, permits to' a locking detent '86 to engage with the teeth' of the ratchet wheel also upon a further rotation'of the welt bar shaft 5 whereby itis insured that the ratchet wheel I3 will attain always. the same end position corresponding to the aforesaidposition II of the welt bars and will rem'ain'i'n such end position. j 7

Before the sinking of thefloops ofjthe initial course a further advance of the patternjdrum 3I' takes place in the direction of the arrow whereby a cam drive as shown in Fig. 8' of the copending application of Jaroslav vaclavilkn'ser. No. 99,781, filed June17, '1949 is put into operation which after the completed sinking' of the first course of loops and during their distribution causes the welt bar shaft 5 to make a single revolution in the direction of the arrow s2 shown in Figure '7, and all the welt bars 3 to move from their preparatory position II into their operative position III in which the bearded' needles 2 of the welt bars 3 will take over the loops of the initial course while the pawl and ratchet drive B still operates in theoriginal direction shown 'by the arrow 8;, in Fig. '7, the set of discharged hosiery articles I45 being reeled up on the drawing-oif rolls IE3. V

When the first courses of loops of the next set of hosiery articles I46 fhavcbeen taken over, a further advance'of the pattern drum 3| takes place in the direction of the'arrow shown, whereby the pawl andr'atchet drive A and thus also thewelt bar shaft 5 are rotated in the direction of the arrow 82 shown in Figure 8 to'withdraw the welt bars 3 from the range of the frame needles I in a direction towards the position ofrest I. For this purpose the end of the lever 30 leaves the sliding face of a lower'segment 32 and passes 'on to the sliding face of a higher-segment 33.

The end of the lever 38, which .thus moves upwards, imparts movementto the pull rod system v intermediary of themeans' described hereinbe- When the drawing-off belts 9 with the drawing-off hooks 8, the intermediate belts MI and the finished stockings I45 have been reeled up on the fabric rolls I0, afurther advance of the pattern drum 3I takes place in the direction shown by the arrow, whereby the rotation of the pawl and ratchet drive B and also that of the fabric roll shaft II is automatically reversed, the fabric roll shaft beginning to rotate in the direction of the arrow 31, shown in Fig. 9. Thereby the drawing-off belts 9, the intermediate. belts I4I and the hosiery articles I25 are unreeled and the latter finally fall down together with the welt rods I38 into the containers I40 (Fig. 9), so that the attendant only has to withdraw at any desired moment the welt rods from the goods and introduce them into a magazine I39 (Fig. 10). The objectof the intermediate belts I4I which are reeled up on to the fabric rolls III together with the hosiery articles N35 is to insure the reliable unwinding of the goods from the fabricrolls into the containers I 40.

The change in the sense of rotation of thepawl and ratchet drive B to the direction of the arrow 51 shown in Fig. 9 takes place due to the fact that the end of the lever 6| (Fig. l), which prior to thisstage was in contact with the surface of the drum'3l, passes on to the sliding face of one of the higher segments 63. The lever 6! which is liftedthereby transmitsits movement to the lever system 60, 59, 58 and 51, rack bar 53 (Figs. 2 and 3) and toothed segment 54 which causes the pinion 45 and the case 48 to turn in such a way that the aperture 49 of the case 48 permits the pawl 51 to engage for a time with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 4I.

During the rotation of the two shafts 5 and II in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows s1 and se in Fig. 9, the pattern drum 3I assumes a position in which the ends of the levers BI and 32 rest on the sliding faces of the higher segments 63 and 33, respectively. As soon as the drawing-off hooks 8 have reached their basic position shown in Fig. 10 in which they remain until the lowermost welt rod I38 from the magazines I39 has been inserted in the knitted fabric I45, the operation of the pawl and ratchet drive B in the direction 81 shown in Fig-9 is terminated by a further advance of the pattern drum 3I. The invariable location of the drawing-off hooks 8 in their basic position is insured by means of a simple device (not shown) whereby the hitherto unavoidable dependency of the drum-rotation on thebasic position of the hooks is eliminated. During the afore-described advance of the drum 3| in the direction shown by the arrow, the end of the lever 6! slides'from the sliding-face of a higher seg ment 63 on to the sliding face of a lowensegment 62 so'that the lever system BIL-59,- 58, 51 and the gear transmission 53, 54 and 46 (Figs. 2 and 3) cause the case 48 to turn to its neutral position whereby the pawls 5| and =52 are-pre- I vented from engaging with their. associated ratchetwheels M and 42 and'the shaft .I.I'-with the fabric rolls I0 does not turn. 4

During the rotation of the, two shafts '5..an'd I I in the same direction (see '81- and s; in Fig, 8), that is to say during the drawing off of theinitial courses of loops of the double welts 'of the .next hosiery articles I46 and during the rotation of both shafts 5 and II in opposite directions, as

shown in Fig. 9, each step of movement of the 'shaft- II and thus also'of the fabric rolls ID is larger than, e. g. the double of, each prior step in the normal drawing I on operation shown in Fig. 6. The object of this arrangementdssto permit thedrawing' off hooks 8, which.areireeled up on the fabric rolls I to return to their basic position shown in Figure 10 before" the automatic'insertion' of the welt" rods I38 from the magazines I39'into the knitted goods I46.

The feed amplitude of the'pawl and ratchet drive B and thereby the value of th'e'aforesaid speed'of rotation of the shaft ll: during the various stagesof the-knitting operation are determinedby the position of .a periodically ro tating cam T6 (see Fig; 1). providedon its periphery with portions of different height which displace the lever 14 and the leverrsyst'em 13, i2 and- H in a. direction towards the pawl and ratchet drive B or in the opposite: direction.

The varying length and ten'sion of the: spring liaifects the amplitude of the rocking movement of the lever 68 and of its pawls 5|, 52. Thus, for instance, the cam it assumes. during the knitting of" the last courses of.loops ofthe stockings Hl5'such a position that its highest peripheral portion'causesthe lever W and. the lever system 13, 12' and H to-be-moved in a direction towards the pawl and ratchet drive B" so that the contracting, shorter spring 15 practically does not-affect the feediof the pawl 52. On the other hand when the lever arm T4 is sliding along the lowest peripheral portion of the cam 16, the latter' causes the spring 15 to be extended and to produce'a stronger pull in the direction of the pawl an'd ratchet drive 13 so that the'feed of the pawl 52 and'of the fabric roll sha'ft II is the largest.

ter the automatic positioning of the lowermostwelt rod [38 in the basic position as shown in Fig. 10, the pawl and ratchet drive B is again put in operation'by'a pulse from the pattern" drum 3| through the afore described means and causes the fabric roll shaft H to rotate in the direction of the arrow s1 as shown in Fig. 11', while the operation of the pawl and ratchet drive A and the advance of the welt bars 3 resulting therefrom are interrupted for a time. The rotation of the fabric rolls [9 in the direction of the arrow s1 as shown in Fig. 11' produces a horizontal displacement of the drawing-off hooks 8 in a direction away from the frame needles. Thereby the drawing-off hooks seize in a manner known per se the lowest welt rods I38 which again carry out the drawingoif operation of the hosiery articles I46 up to its termination. Meanwhile the welt bars 3 remain inactive; and the leading portion of' the knitted fabric IE6 held in the bearded needles 2 of the welt-bars 3 slides, due to the pull o'f'the rods 8, along the shanks ofthe needles 2' in the direction towards the welt bars 3" and thus is brought against the back of the bearded needles 2 (see Fig. 12).

Upon termination of the second half of the double" welt,v the next automatic advance of the pattern drum 3| takes place causing the operation of the pawl and ratchet drive B to be interrupted in the afore-described manner during the change over of the double welt (Fig. 12) so that both pawl and ratchet drives A and B- are in their position of rest. The change over of the first courses of loops, which are held in the bearded needles 2 0'f the" welt bars 3, on to the frame needles is effected by a separate drive, not shown, which causes the welt bar shaft-5 to make a revolution in the direction of the arrow s2 shown Fig. 13 as soon as the rocking guide 4' forthe 12 welt: bars: 3?: is liftedv by rotation: of the. shaft 12' After-theiautomatic change over of .the double welt', the. pattern. .drum: 31 isagain advanced in the direction of the arrowas shown, whereby the two. pawl and-ratchet drivesA andB and with them" the" shafts:- 5V and: It are caused to rotate'in the manner already described in the samedirection s1, sagas shown in Fig. 14.

During this period the drawing-off hooks 8 continue. to draw off; the. knitted .fabric and the empty welttbars 3 return to their position of rest I. As soon as they reach this position, a furtheradvance of "thezpattern; drum takes place sothat'the pawl andratchet drive Ais put out of operation-bythe means'described hereinbefore; while thei-otherrpawl and ratchet driveB isheld inoperatiemup to endof the complete reeling of the finishedistockings.Mfion the fabric rollsflo; asit has-beenexplained already in-connectionwith; theknittingof the preceding set of hosiery; articles; I45: The; described process of knitting; drawingq-oif and discharging the stock.- ing is repeated.

The invention isnot confined to thedescribed example; but may be carried out with various modifications and is also suitable for other machines with similar working. condie tions'. More. particularly, theapparatus for. carrying out: the invention. may differ in: its various detailsefromthearrangement shown. Thus, for instance, the drawing-off. belts 9. for moving the welt rodsmay; be made offany desired. material, more-particularly inthe shape of tensionsprings similar to those used hitherto. for shifting. the welt bars;

What we claim is:

1. Inamethod for drawing off and discharging the'hosiery invflat weft knitting frames, in which-theinitial:courses of loops of the knitted fabric-are-drawn oifby horizontally moving welt bars and after the doubleawelts have been completely knitted and: transferred, the fabric is drawn off bymeans of double welt rods which are carried along together with the drawing-off hooks by means of p ull members, the steps of reeling up the knitted fabric on the fabric rolls together with the said' double welt rods also after the fabric hasbeen struck. off. from. the needles and; when the fabric is completely reeled up, unreeling it by rotation of the fabric rolls in the opposite direction to automatically deliver the fabric into discharge containers arranged adjacent to the: said. fabric rolls, and causing the drawing off; hooks to return automatically to their basic: position in the range'of the automatically controlled. doublewelt rods after completion of theun'reeli'ng. operation.

2. In'a method for drawing off and discharg ing the hosiery. in. flat weftv knitting frames, in which the initial courses of loops of. the knitted fabric are drawn off by horizontally moving welt bars and after the double welts have. been completely knitted. and. transferred, the fabric is drawn 01f bymeans of double welt rods which are carried. along together with the drawing on hooks by" means of pull. members, the steps. of reeling. up. the knitted fabric, on the fabric rolls together with the said double. welt rods also after; the fabric has been struck off from the needles and, when thefabric is completely reeled up, unreeling-v itby rotation. of the fabric rolls in the opposite direction to automatically deliver the fabric into discharge containers. arranged adjacent to the said fabric rolls, causing the drawing-off hooks to return automatically to their basic position in the range of the automatically controlled double welt rods after completion of the unreeling operation, and moving the welt bars out of their position of rest into a preparatory position adjacent to the frame needles concurrently with the reeling of the fabric on the fabric rolls, the said welt bars, after the fabric has been struck off from the needles and during the final phase of its reeling on the fabric rolls, causing the initial courses of loops of the next set of hosiery articles to be drawn off in th direction away from the frame needles.

3. In a method for drawing off and discharging the hosiery in flat weft knitting frames, in which the initial courses of loops of the knitted fabric are drawn off by horizontally moving welt bars and after the double welts have been completely knitted and transferred, the fabric is drawn off by means of double welt rods which are carried along together with the drawing off hooks by means of pull members, the steps of reeling up the knitted fabric on the fabric rolls together with the said double welt rods also after the fabric has been struck off from the needles and, when the fabric is completely reeled up, unreeling it by rotation of the fabric rolls in the opposite direction to automatically deliver the fabric into discharge containers arranged adjacent to the said fabric rolls, causing the drawing-off hooks to return automatically to their basic position in the range of the automatically controlled double welt rods after completion of the unreeling operation, and moving the welt bars out of their position of rest into a preparatory position adjacent to the frame needles concurrently with the reeling of the fabric on the fabric rolls, the said welt bars, after the fabric has been struck off from the needles and during the final phase of its reeling on the fabric rolls, causing the initial courses of loops of the next set of hosiery articles to be drawn off in the direction away from frame needles, the reeling and unreeling of the knitted fabric from the moment of striking it off from the frame needles up to the return of the drawing off hooks to their basic position being effected at a higher speed than the reeling of the knitted fabric still held on the frame needles.

4. In a flat weft knitting frame including knitting instrumentalities and pattern control mechanism, means for drawing off and discharging the fabric comprising horizontally movable welt bars having welt hooks to receive the initial courses of loops of the fabric, actuating means for said welt bars including a reversible drive shaft, a fabric take-up roll for reeling up the fabricafter the same has been struck off from the needles, actuating means for said fabric take-up roll including a reversible drive shaft, separate automatic reversible drives for said shafts, and automatic control mechanism for said reversible drives, responsive to the pattern control mechanism, for controlling actuation of said drive shafts both as to direction and time in relation to each other and to the actuation of the knit ting instrumentalities.

5. A flat web knitting frame according to claim 4, and means for varying the speed of rotation of the drive shaft of the fabric take-up roll.

6. A flat web knitting frame according to claim 4 in which each of said automatic reversible drives is a pawl and ratchet wheel mechanism including ratchet wheels mounted on each of said drive shafts, rockable pawl carriers carrying pawls for cooperating with the ratchet wheels and movable selecting elements displaceable to positions to render said pawls ineffective to drive said ratchet wheels or selectively effective to drive the same in either direction.

7. A flat web knitting frame, according to claim 6 in which said rockable pawl carriers are rocked in one direction by driving elements actuated from a moving part of the machine and in the reverse direction by spring means, and in which means are provided for varying the tension on the spring means associated with the pawl carrier of the drive for the fabric take-up roll.

8. A flat web knitting frame according to claim 4 in which drawing off bands carrying hooks for engaging the ends of welt rods are wound on said fabric take-up roll adjacent the ends thereof and an independent web is wound on said roll intermediate the ends thereof between the fabric layers to insure safe unwinding and laying off of the fabric therefrom upon reverse rotation of the take-up roll to discharge the fabric.

JAROSLAV VACLAVIK. OLDRICH BAYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,248,507 Miller July 8, 1941 2,269,463 Lieberknecht Jan. 13, 1942 2,371,932 Start et al. Mar. 20, 1945 2,376,267 Moyer May 15, 1945 2,413,601 Bitzer Dec. 31, 1946 

